{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1457917"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1457917/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1457917","accessionNumber":"L.992-1926","objectType":"Book","titles":[{"title":"Vers une architecture: collection de \"L'esprit nouveau\" (nouvelle edition revue et augmentee) 9th edition","type":"published title"}],"summaryDescription":"Vers Une Architecture, or Towards an Architecture is a philosophical and instructional text, first written by Le Corbusier in 1923. Le Corbusier wrote Towards an Architecture with the notion that it would guide, or even dictate the direction of architecture in the flourishing era of mass-production. Writing with the authority of a political leader, Le Corbusier states in the text: ‘The great problems of tomorrow: dictated by the collective needs [of today], pose the question of the [architectural] plan anew. Modern life demands await a new plan for the house and for the city’.\r\n\r\nVers Une Architecture marks the first time in Le Corbusier’s career that he explicitly describes his famous Five Points of a New Architecture- ‘piloti’ (columns raising the first floor from the ground), the ‘free plan’ and ‘free façade’ or use of a steel and concrete structure to eliminate the need for load-bearing interior or exterior walls, ‘ribbon’ or long horizontal windows to allow more internal light, and finally the roof garden to ensure a piece of nature for even the most urban, tightly cramped of dwellings. Although Le Corbusier underwent many personal reformations in his approach to architecture and interior design in the years following the publication of Vers Une Architecture, he was faithful to the 5 core architectural ‘points’ right through to his final build, ‘La Maison de L’Homme’ which was finished two years after his death in 1965.\r\n\r\nWhat is particularly remarkable about Vers Une Architecture is how Le Corbusier’s concerns span so far beyond architecture in the physical sense. Le Corbusier posits architecture as a social imperative, with one chapter of Vers Une Architecture entitled ‘’Architecture or Revolution?’’ in which the architect suggests that the ills of modern society may be remedied by clean, geometrically harmonious homes which ‘allow space for the [human] spirit to breathe’.","physicalDescription":"Printed book of 255 pages with illustrations, plans and black & white photographs.  Possibly rebound.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Le Corbusier","id":"A3475"},"association":{"text":"author","id":"AAT25492"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Editions Georges Crès & C ie","id":"AUTH349786"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Imprimerie E. Arrault et Cie","id":"AUTH349787"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"National Art Library","id":"THES271541"},{"text":"Books","id":"THES48986"},{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"NAL","id":"THES48605"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"none","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"74","id":"THES49720"},"free":"","case":"CA005","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"book","id":"AAT28051"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"Printed and published","id":"x35383"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1926?","earliest":"1926-01-01","latest":"1926-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed and published","id":"x35383"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"246","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"209","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Thickness","value":"10","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"closed","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Book, Vers une architecture (9th ed of the new edition), Le Corbusier, Les Éditions G. Grès et Cie, Paris, [1926]","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"New ideas for new city spaces\n\nIn his influential 1923 book ‘Vers une architecture’, architect Le Corbusier observed that different public spaces were emerging in the urban environment. After the Second World War, recreational areas and car parks popped up across cities and became important additions to new towns like Milton Keynes and housing developments. The architectural model for Robin Hood Gardens shows the inclusion of green space around the 1970s east London housing estate.\n\nManifesto for modern architecture \n‘Vers une architecture’ (Toward an Architecture), 1924 (printed about 1925)\nBy Le Corbusier \nPublished by Editions Georges Crès & Cie, printed by Imprimerie E. Arrault et Cie, France \nPrinted paper \nMuseum no. 38041800996993\n\nPoster advertising a new town \n‘Where is Milton Keynes?’, 1973\nDesigned by Minale, Tattersfield and Provinciali \nIssued by Westerham Press, UK \nColour offset lithograph on paper \nGiven by Minale Tattersfield & Partners \nMuseum no. E.175-2011\n\nModel showing central green space \nRobin Hood Gardens Estate, 1970\nDesigned by Alison and Peter Smithson, UK \nPainted wood \nMuseum no. CD.12:1-2018\n\nThe object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.","date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["38041800996993"],"accessionNumberNum":"38041800996993","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"NAL accession number","id":"THES57370"},"number":"L.992-1926"},{"type":{"text":"NAL Pressmark","id":"THES56809"},"number":"31.C.100"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2025PG0888"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-13","recordCreationDate":"2018-08-09","availableToBook":false}}